Chapter 50

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 50

Chapter Title: The Secret Maid of the Count's Family (3)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Moonlight bathed the night, plunging the mansion into chaos.

The stillness of the midnight hour was shattered by a scream. Sharp and streaked with tears, the cry reached the annex and even the servants in the distant main house. A maid arrived first at the source of the commotion and let out a shout, drawing the other servants rushing in behind her.

"Oh my God!"

"Lord Christopher? Is that Lord Christopher?"

"Kyaa! Someone help us here!"

Shocked screams and frantic footsteps filled the air. It was a dark night with no one around. The ground behind the annex was soaked in blood, with splatters dotting the wall. The red bloodstains, evoking images of horror just by looking at them, stretched around the corner toward the front of the building. And at the end of that trail lay the youngest son of the Christopher family, collapsed and bleeding. It was unmistakably the work of another person. Realizing this, the servants fell into panic. Who could have done this to him?

The butler took immediate action. Isabella ordered everyone except a few servants to withdraw. The servants glanced at Lucas, lying as still as death, before returning to their posts. They were all whispering furiously about who could have done this to him.

Amid all the uproar, I was holed up in my room.

I buried my tear-streaked face between my knees, curling my body as tightly as possible. Every nerve on edge, I glared at the firmly shut door. It felt like someone would burst in any moment and swing a knife at me. Even though I'd locked it, the thought dominated my mind.

I'm scared.

I trembled alone like that all night until I passed out from exhaustion.

My body floated in the sky. The buoyant sensation felt good. I didn't want to come back down. Maybe if I drifted aimlessly like this, I'd reach somewhere. It didn't matter if I didn't. I just wanted to vanish like this.

"Sis, it's okay. I'm okay."

A beautiful face smiled kindly. I wanted to etch that image into my eyes, but my vision kept blurring, making it impossible. That was all I could do, yet even that I couldn't manage.

"Don't do anything. That's what you need to do, Sis."

The blatant sneer stabbed at me. I fell silent because I agreed with it.

"Think about it. This isn't the place for empty dreams."

I know. I know that all too well. Stop it. Don't do this. Even without you saying it, I can't do anything. Please just leave me alone.

"You'll never forget this moment."

A gentle voice echoed. I thought of Lucas. The man who looked at me in the darkness, who confessed he liked me. He always smiled kindly at me. Even then, he smiled at me. No, that's not right. I didn't see that man's face at that time. I turned away first from what might have been our last moment.

The darkness lifted, revealing his face twisted in agony. His eyes, unfocused and weak, strained to take me in. A single tear trailed down from the corner of his eye. His rough, dry lips parted desperately.

"Run... away!"

My eyes snapped open.

I quickly scanned my surroundings. It was quiet. I strained my ears, but there were no signs of life. It's okay here. I'm alone. No one's here. Only then did I exhale and let my shoulders slump.

Knock knock.

At that moment, a knock came at the door.

I flinched. Pulling the sheet over my head, I huddled tightly in the corner, watching the door warily.

When I didn't answer, the doorknob rattled. Realizing it was locked, the sound stopped abruptly.

But moments later, there was a click, and the door opened. It creaked as someone entered. I kept my eyes fixed on them without blinking.

The door shut with a thud. The person groped around the room, slowly approaching me. It was Vincent. He was feeling his way toward me, searching.

The moment I saw Vincent's face, I crawled out from under the bed and ran to him.

I grabbed his flailing arms and clung to them. With my other hand, I clutched at his chest. His startled emerald eyes locked onto me.

"Lu-Lucas... Lord Lucas!"

I stammered out the unfinished words. The shock on his face gradually faded. I anxiously searched his lips.

"He's alive."

Hearing that, my legs gave out. As I collapsed, Vincent bent down with me. He asked if I was okay, but my mind was filled with just one thought—I couldn't even respond.

He's alive. He's alive. Lucas is alive... The tears I'd been holding back burst forth again. I gripped his collar tightly and sobbed.

Vincent's hand groped toward my face. Feeling the wetness, he pulled me into an embrace.

"Don't cry."

Then he patted my back.

"It'll be okay."

"I-I thought he was dead. I thought he'd die like that, h-hic. The wounds, the wounds were so bad. So much blood, b-blood, he lost so much blood. Sob."

His hand stilled on my back. He pulled me away urgently.

"What are you saying? Don't tell me... you were the one who screamed?"

"Yes."

I wiped my streaming tears and answered. Memories of last night flooded back. Out of fear, terror, and worry for Lucas, I'd screamed despite myself. I'd desperately hoped someone would hear and come save him.

"What?"

His emerald eyes widened. They wavered briefly before he seized my arms.

"The attacker? Did you see them?"

"No. I didn't. I ran before I could see..."

"But they saw you?"

"I-I'm not sure. They were under the moonlight, so maybe..."

I hesitated, and his face grew more grave. His grip on my arms tightened painfully. I winced, and he bowed his head low.

As I strained to hear his mutterings, the door burst open. I jumped and looked over in shock.

It was Ethan.

Ethan scanned the room, spotted us, and hurried over. Vincent's gaze turned to him. Ethan grabbed Vincent's collar and roughly yanked him to his feet.

I shot up, anxiously watching the two of them.

"Vincent. Tell me now."

"..."

"Tell me the truth."

Ethan's face twisted. It was nothing like his usual mischievous, carefree self. His clothes were disheveled from running, his breathing ragged.

He was trembling with anxiety. His face was pale, dark circles under his reddened eyes.

Yet Vincent didn't flinch at his sudden behavior. He regarded Ethan calmly.

"James... did your brother do this to you?"

Vincent answered Ethan's question a beat late.

"...Yes."

"He targeted you from the start?"

"No. He was after Lucas."

"Why?"

"Because Lucas found out James's secret. A secret he shouldn't have known. So he tried to blackmail Lucas. But even that wasn't enough—he was still a loose end."

"So James is the one who did this to Lucas?"

I looked at Ethan in shock, then back at Vincent. He seemed to have sensed this long ago, his face conflicted as he moved his lips.

"Yes."

Ethan gritted his teeth. His hands trembled as they clutched Vincent's collar. Then he let go and buried his face in them. His features, a mix of grief and confusion, were hidden.

"...And he killed my father too?"

The choked question emerged again. This time, the silence stretched. Finally, Vincent lowered his eyes and gave the heavy answer.

"Yes. Lucas witnessed it."

"..."

"That's the secret James wanted to hide."

Ethan whirled around. Vincent reached out, barely catching him. He urgently continued.

"Ethan! Try to understand how Lucas felt."

Ethan didn't turn back. He said nothing.

"Lucas didn't tell you because he was worried about you."

"Why."

"Both you and James are precious brothers to him."

"You."

"He didn't want you killing your brother."

"..."

"Lucas and I were both worried about that. You loved your father so much."

Ethan let out a hollow breath and shook off Vincent's hand. As he stormed out of the room, Vincent tripped over a table and fell. I rushed to him, asking if he was okay. His gaze chased after his departing friend, vacant.

He groped the back of my hand holding him.

"Go after him. Stop him. Tell him not to."

"Not to what?"

"Everything. All of it."

Vincent urged me. I dashed out and scanned the hallway. Ethan was already at the far end.

I ran and grabbed him. His confused face turned to me.

"Don't do it."

"..."

"Please don't."

"Don't what?"

"Everything. All of it."

"It's impossible."

Ethan gave a bitter smile. His brown eyes glistened with moisture.

"Miss Maid. I'm not here for permission. I just wanted confirmation. But honestly, I already knew. I just turned a blind eye, pretending it couldn't be. And this is the result."

"Still, don't do it."

"He tried to kill Lucas. My own blood."

"..."

"Next it'll be me. Or Vincent."

At those words, my hand slipped from his arm. Ethan erased his sadness. The tremors gone, his face was terrifyingly calm.

"Tell Vincent I'm sorry."

"..."

Ethan turned away. This time, I couldn't stop him. No need to voice it—his self-reproach for hesitating, the firmness of his resolve, it was all clear.

I lowered my head, watching his retreating back.

Back in the room, Vincent turned at my footsteps. His eyes asked what happened; I answered with a hollow laugh.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. No need to apologize."

Vincent shook his head. But he couldn't hide his dejection.

I approached him as he groped around and supported him. He took my hand.

"Pack your things right now."

"Pardon?"

"I'm sending you somewhere else."

My eyes widened.

"Why? Did I do something wrong? Is it because I couldn't stop Ethan?"

"No."

"Then why..."

"You're in danger."

He turned to face me, holding my hand. Calmly, he explained.

"They'll know you were at the scene where Lucas was attacked. You might be safe for now, but James will find out about you eventually. He won't leave you alone. You're the only witness."

"..."

"There's a villa owned by our family in Novelle. I'll send you there. Stay and rest for a bit. Once things settle and it's safe, I'll bring you back."

"No."

"..."

"I refuse."

I shook my head and stepped back. As I tried to pull away, he gripped tighter. The distance grew, but our connected hands remained.

"Please don't abandon me."